26 November 2010
Moncton, New Brunswick
Ten of Atlantic Canada's leading defence contractors and suppliers will join the Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of National Revenue, Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway, on a business mission to Valparaiso, Chile. The delegation will attend EXPONAVAL 2010, an international conference and exhibition of technologies, equipment and services for Latin America's naval defence industry, from November 30 to December 3.
"Atlantic Canada has world class products and services to offer and in order for Atlantic Canada to grow and prosper, we must broaden our trade horizons. That's why I am pleased to lead this mission – to help our companies expand and to enhance our economic performance," said Minister Ashfield. "EXPONAVAL provides exceptional opportunities for our delegates to tap into new markets. It's an important venue where they can highlight their world-class marine capabilities to key defence stakeholders in Latin America, and to foster trade relationships."
Atlantic Canada's participation in EXPONAVAL is made possible by ACOA, in collaboration with the World Trade Centre-Atlantic Canada, and builds on the region's highly successful debut at this biennial event in 2008. That year, the show attracted over 7,500 visitors, including official naval delegations, military attachés from across Central and South America, government and defence industry representatives, military decision-makers and international defence contractors active in the region.
EXPONAVAL is a meeting place of a strategically significant market for Atlantic Canadian exporters and a key element in the Government of Canada's Strategy of the Americas. A report released in July by the Economic Commission for Latin America estimates the region's economy will grow more than five percent this year. In 2009, two-way merchandise trade between Canada and Latin America totalled almost $19 billion.
"Our Government is making progress in opening trade corridors around the world," said Minister Ashfield. "By broadening the reach of our trade and export efforts, we are showing the world that Atlantic Canada has a lot to offer. Advancements in international relations are yet another step toward Atlantic Canada's economic recovery."
Regarded as one of the region's leading defence exhibitions, EXPONAVAL features a wide variety of networking, learning and marketing activities for Atlantic Canada's delegates to showcase their quality goods and services, gain knowledge about the Latin American industry, make connections with major buyers and pursue sales. Key activities include an Atlantic Canada-hosted reception, roundtable discussions with industry specialists, facilities tours, market familiarization briefings and business-to-business meetings.
Export trade is a source of growth, employment and prosperity for the region and Atlantic Canada's aerospace and defence industry is a major driver of the region's economy, generating export revenues of $1 billion annually. More than 200 industry firms in the Atlantic region provide globally-competitive solutions and support to military and commercial markets – both domestic and international – and employ over 10,000 skilled and experienced workers combined.
The Government of Canada is contributing $160,000 toward the mission, under ACOA's Business Development Program.
FOR BROADCAST USE:
Ten of Atlantic Canada's leading defence contractors and suppliers will join ACOA Minister Keith Ashfield on a trade-building mission to Chile. The delegation will attend EXPONAVAL 2010, an international conference and exhibition of technologies, equipment and services for Latin America's naval defence industry, from November 30 to December 3, in Valparaiso.
The Minister said the biennial event provides exceptional opportunities for the delegates to tap into new markets.The mission is being organized by ACOA, in collaboration with the World Trade Centre-Atlantic Canada, and received $160,000 in assistance from the Government of Canada, under ACOA's Business Development Program.
-30-
INFORMATION:
Robert Bourgeois
Senior Communications Officer
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
506-851-6394
robert.bourgeois@acoa-apeca.gc.ca
MEDIA BACKGROUNDER
The following Atlantic Canadian companies and organizations will participate in the trade mission to EXPONAVAL in Valparaiso, Chile, from November 30 to December 3, 2010.
New Brunswick CARIS (Fredericton)
Newfoundland and Labrador Virtual Marine Technology (St. John's) Compusult (Mount Pearl)
Nova Scotia ULTRA Electronics Maritime Systems (Dartmouth) JASCO Research (Halifax) Rosbourough Boats (Beechville) Tristar (Yarmouth) Metocean (Dartmouth) Martec (Halifax) L3 Communications (Enfield)
Other representatives The Aerospace and Defence Industries Association of Nova Scotia (ADIANS) Nova Scotia Business Inc. (Government of NS - Halifax)
